Summer Research

During July and August of 2008, I did a brief
research experience with Dr. Steven Day, a Mechanical Engineering professor at
Rochester Institute of Technology.His
research is focused on improving artificial heart pumps (constant axial flow
pumps like the Jarvik 2000) by replacing mechanical bearings with magnetic
bearings.The purpose of this is to
eliminate maintenance on the pump due to wear and tear.This way, the pump will outlast the user –
not the other way around.

He had me contribute to the project by helping
design and construct a frame to simulate the chest cavity were the pump will be
implanted.This was upon request from
several doctors at Duke University who want to train people to perform the
surgery on something artificial before moving to a pig or calf, then ultimately
a person.

Right now, the doctors are training people for
performing the surgery using a pig heart sitting in a baking tin.It is our job to present them with something
a little more realistic and practical that will incorporate the use of rib
spreaders, and simulate the confined space they have to work with.

Attached at the bottom of the page, you can find the word document of this web page.

Phase I was supposed to be simple.It targeted a few main ideas:the rib spreaders must be able to be used,
and the pig heart should be contained in something easily cleanable that
approximates the size of the chest cavity.I was told a basic idea for the frame and that we were on a short
timeline (the simulated chest had to be completed in a few days).

We used a Rubberware container to replicate the
chest cavity.It was supposed to be
close to 6” wide, 6” deep, and 10” long – about the size of the area the
doctors have to work with inside the body.I drilled 2 holes in the container and lined them with rubber tubing for
the hoses for the pump to go through.The bottom wall (closest to our feet as if it were our body) served as
the diaphragm for the hosing to go through.

The container itself sits inside the
framework.The frame simulates the
sternum and ribcage.The frame was built
out of aluminum angle and aluminum flat bar.I made all the necessary cuts on the band saw, filed it, and had
somebody from the machine shop weld it together for us.I then drilled holes in the frame and
attached the 4 hinges.We lined the
“sternum” (aluminum flat bar) with rubber so it would sit better at rest.Springs were also attached to the frame to
provide tension as a ribcage would.

Phase I was given to the doctors, and they liked
the design when they initially received it.

The design process of Phase II was based on ideas
from me, some graduate students working on the heart pump, and Dr. Day.I didn’t get a chance to hear the feedback
from the doctors on how they liked the initial simulated chest cavity we gave
them.In turn, I unfortunately could not
incorporate any ideas or improvements from the doctors.Additionally, phase II will not be completed
by me due to lack of time.I will
however present some ideas for the next step in the process.

Overall, I feel this whole experience was quite
beneficial.I learned about some new
technologies and ideas that are being applied to the human heart to help us
live longer, healthier lives.I was able
to see what kind of work is done in Dr. Day’s lab, and watch videos of the
actual surgery people have when getting heart pumps implanted.This allowed me to understand the final
destination of the heart pump, and what kind of confined space the surgeons are
working with.Keeping all of this in
mind, I was able to help construct a simulated rib cage and chest cavity for
the doctors at Duke University to practice the implantation of the artificial
heart pump.